Curcuma plant named ‘Apollo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Curcuma plant having red colored inflorescences.

Botanical classification: Curcuma hybrid.

Varietal denomination: ‘Apollo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Curcuma plant known by the varietal name ‘Apollo’. The new variety was discovered in 2016 in Chiangmai, Thailand as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing Curcuma plants with new coloration and characteristics. The new variety is the result of a cross between an unnamed and unpatented Curcuma alismatifolia variety (female parent) and an unnamed and unpatented Curcuma aurantiaca variety (male parent). The new variety is similar to its female parent in exhibiting large and long upper inflorescence bracts, but exhibits a larger overall inflorescence size than its female parent. ‘Apollo’ exhibits similar overall inflorescence color to its male parent, but differs from its male parent in having a golden red lip flower color versus a red lip flower color of its male parent. Tissue culture and bulb asexual reproductions of the new variety first occurred in 2016 in Chiangmai, Thailand. ‘Apollo’ has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The large, red inflorescences and red upper surface leaf midrib color distinguish ‘Apollo’ from other Curcuma varieties known to the breeder. Further, when ‘Apollo’ is compared to Curcuma hybrid ‘Maroon Heart’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/501,648), the varieties are similar in inflorescence height and exhibiting a red colored leaf midrib. However, the varieties differ in inflorescence color (‘Maroon Heart’ has darker red colored inflorescences than ‘Apollo’).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing taken at approximately 60 days of age illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety at approximately 60 days of age. The data which defines these characteristics was collected under natural light in Chiangmai, Thailand. Plants of the new variety were grown in 20.3 cm pots in a plastic greenhouse in Chiangmai, Thailand and watered 1-2 times a day, if needed. Color references are primarily to The 2016 HTML Color Chart and The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 6th Edition, except where general color terms are used.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 20-30 days at about 30-33° C. -   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 45 days at about 30-33°     C. -   Root description: Fibrous, with a pale brown colored (A57C55) milk     tank. -   Number of rhizomes produced per plant: From 1-3. -   Rhizome diameter: 3.0 cm. -   Growth habit: Annual. -   Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences): 50.0 cm. -   Plant diameter: 30.0-40.0 cm. -   Pubescence: None observed. -   Disease resistance/susceptibility: None observed. -   Pest resistance/susceptibility: None observed. -   Temperature tolerance: 20-40° C. or tropical climate conditions. -   Drought tolerance: Unknown. -   Seed/fruit: None observed to date. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average number per plant.—5.         -   Length.—32.0 cm.         -   Width.—11.0 cm.         -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Moderately elliptic.         -   Shape of apex.—Attenuate.         -   Shape of base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin description.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Green (C5E96E). Lower             surface: Green (7BA058). Mature leaves: Upper surface: Green             (578441). Lower surface: Green (3B631D).         -   Veins.—Appearance: Pinnate and penninerved. Color: Upper             surface: Green (55783C) with a red (683C42) midrib. Lower             surface: Green (55783C) with a red (683C42) midrib.         -   Leaf sheaths.—Length: 17.0 cm. Width: 2.5 cm. Texture: Upper             surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth. Color: Upper             surface: RHS 152A. Lower surface: RHS 152A. Venation:             Pattern: Parallel. Color: RHS 63B.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Inflorescence arrangement: 1 upright inflorescence per shoot. -   Inflorescence number per plant: From 2-3. -   Inflorescence length: 35.0 cm. -   Inflorescence diameter: 7.0 cm. -   Fragrance: None. -   Flower bracts:     -   -   Total number per inflorescence.—Approximately 25.         -   Upper bracts.—Number: Approximately 10. Length: 5.0 cm.             Width: 3.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Ovate.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower             surface: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: Red (C24838). Lower             surface: Red (87252C).         -   Lower bracts.—Number: Approximately 10. Length: 3.0 cm.             Width: 3.0 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Mucronate. Base:             U-shaped. Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth.             Lower surface: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: Red (551D21).             Lower surface: Red (763F3F). -   Flowers:     -   -   Number per inflorescence.—Approximately 50.         -   Continuity of flowering.—1 month.         -   Lastingness of an individual flower.—1-2 days.         -   Length.—3.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 cm.         -   Appearance.—Orchidaceous form.         -   Upper petals.—Upper surface color: Pale yellow (C2997F).             Lower surface color: Pale yellow (C2997F).         -   Lower petals.—Upper surface color: Yellow (C9A076) and             purple (934267). Lower surface color: Yellow (C9A076) and             purple (934267).         -   Flower buds.—Length: 6.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm. Shape: Round.             Texture: Smooth.         -   Sepals.—Number: 3. Calyx arrangement: In overlapping             circles. Length: 1.5 cm. Width: 0.7 cm. Overall shape:             Elliptic. Apex: Elliptic. Base: Connected in a cone shape.             Texture: Smooth (both surfaces). Color: Upper surface: RHS             63D. Lower surface: RHS 63D. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—15.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Angle.—Upright.         -   Color.—Green (827912).

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—1. -   Filament:     -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.         -   Color.—Pale cream (C6AE98). -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—2-lobed.         -   Length.—3.0 mm.         -   Color.—Pale cream (C6AE98). -   Pollen: None observed. -   Pistils:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—1.0 cm. -   Style:     -   -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.         -   Color.—Pale cream (C6AE98). -   Stigma:     -   -   Length.—2.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.         -   Color.—Pale cream (C6AE98). 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Curcuma plant, as is herein illustrated and described. 